Messi marks tearful Argentina farewell with goal: Wish I could play forever

Lionel Messi marked his 208th and final game for Argentina with his 126th goal as his country bid an emotional farewell to the global icon.

Tuesday's friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires had been dubbed "the last tango" as Messi played his final game in international soccer after 21 years, two Copa América titles and a World Cup.

The script called for at least one more goal from Messi and the 39-year-old duly delivered. With a wave of his left foot, he emphatically dispatched a penalty into the roof of the net in the 71st minute, cuing up the sold-out crowd at the Estadio Monumental to rejoice with a collective chant of "Messi, Messi."

For a time, it appeared as though Messi might exit the stage without giving the crowd what they wanted most, after snatching at some earlier chances.

But Messi has always been more than just a a goalscorer and he provided two assists for Argentina's other goals in a 3-0 win, delivering a corner for Nicolás Otamendi to head in in the 48th minute and supplying a pass for Nico Paz to curl impressively into the net.

The emotion of the occasion was evident before kickoff.

Messi was pictured in tears as the Argentina team bus made its was through the throngs of fans lining the route to the Estadio Monumental. And more tears flowed, from both Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni, as the Argentinian anthem sounded for the final time with Messi part of the lineup.

Further evidence that the game was secondary on this night, came when the action paused in the 10th minute as the whole stadium applauded Argentina's legendary No. 10, while Benin players took turns shaking Messi's hand.

Messi announced his international retirement in the weeks following the World Cup final loss to Spain, saying, "The time has come."

The Argentine Football Association tempted him to make one last appearance for "the farewell he deserves." More than 85,000 tickets to Buenos Aires' largest stadium sold out in 90 minutes, later fetching over $2,500 on resale sites. Players from Argentina's 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cup-winning squads, along with their families, joined the tribute.

AFA said the match would "transcend sports" and be "full of emotion."

Messi posted on social media pictures of him arriving to join the national team for the last time and his final training sessions.

"Special moments I know I will miss," he wrote.

Messi just fell short of winning back-to-back World Cups when defending champion Argentina was beaten by Spain 1-0 in the final in July in New Jersey.

He achieved his ultimate ambition of leading his country to victory four years earlier in Qatar -- emulating fellow Argentine great Diego Maradona.

Messi finishes as Argentina's all-time leading scorer and appearance holder. Only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (146 in 234 games) has more games or goals in men's international history.

Messi scored 21 goals in the World Cup, appearing in a record-tying six tournaments along with his great rival Ronaldo.

He briefly retired from Argentina duty in 2016 then enjoyed his most successful period with the national team, winning Copa Américas in 2021 and '24, as well as the '22 World Cup.

He's continuing at club level with Inter Miami, and recently won the Campeones Cup, his fourth trophy with the MLS team.